Services: Green Square

Next 15 consists of 17 agencies and employs over 1,600 people across 14 countries. Its capabilities include Digital Content, Full-Service marketing, PR, Public Affairs, Marketing Technology and Market Research. Circle will join Next 15’s insights group, MIG Global. The acquisition represents an excellent cultural and strategic fit for both parties, with Circle bringing significant B2B insight capability and Next 15 providing the digital insight technology and international footprint Circle needs. David Willan, retiring Chairman, Circle commented: “For me, Next 15 represents the perfect home for Circle. The strategic and operational rationale was clear from the outset and the chemistry is superb. I am pleased to be leaving the business in such capable hands. Green Square are a breath of fresh air in the stuffy world of M&A. They combine significant financial nous with an excellent understanding of our industry and a relentless determination – verging on the obsession – to always do what’s best for their clients. In our case they showed considerable resilience in securing the best possible outcome for Circle. After an earlier transaction fell down at the last hurdle (through absolutely no fault of Green Square’s) they came up with a new list of potential buyers in short order, very quickly identified another excellent home for Circle and negotiated the perfect outcome for all parties. Andrew, Tony and the team are an absolute pleasure to work with and constantly reinforce the sense that, whatever the situation, they’re always on your side” Beth Pearson, Joint Managing Director, Circle commented: “We’re confident that joining MIG and Next 15 is a positive move for Circle’s clients and team. MIG shares our core values – great work, delighted clients and happy people – and will enhance our offering by bringing cutting-edge research technology and an on-the-ground international presence.”  Tony Walford, Partner, Green Square commented: “We have known Circle for four years and worked with the management team as they honed their offer, expanded their client base, developed their staff and improved their financial performance. They are a fantastic group of people and it was a privilege to be alongside them on the journey. We wish them the very best with the new opportunities Next 15 brings and their continued, and well deserved, success”

Intermarketing has the ability to execute campaign ideas globally across all channels, building specialist teams around client requirements to offer true collaboration and expertise in brand communications, data and CRM, digital, experiential, retail, TV and video, 3D and animation, media, partnerships, content, and social media. Advantage Smollan provides outsourced sales, marketing, and technology solutions for consumer goods manufacturers and retailers in a number of markets across the world. Intermarketing extends Advantage Smollan’s capabilities into several areas including brand and retail campaigns, strategy, brand communications, data and insights, and content creation. A great fit from a cultural, chemistry and operational perspective, this acquisition gives Intermarketing a solid footprint in North America together with the access to expertise and channels it needs to deliver for its client base across that territory and others. For Advantage Smollan, it represents the strengthening of its delivery capability and value proposition across consumer, shopper and experiential marketing in Europe. Joint Managing Partners Steve Sowden and Jamie Allan commented: “We’ve worked with Green Square for the last four years and we couldn’t have achieved this without their relentless dedication, consistent support and in-depth industry knowledge. From an Ascension Day to our acquisition and everything in between, they have helped us structure and develop our business not just for sale but for the future too, ensuring the success of Intermarketing Agency can continue for many years to come. We are looking forward to continuing the relationship and excited about what the next few years will bring.” Tony Walford, Partner, Green Square commented: “We have worked closely with Jamie, Steve and the team at Intermarketing for four years during which time they have refined and expanded their offering, capabilities, clients and geographies. We have the utmost respect for the “can do” attitude the agency takes to everything it does, the strong relationships they have with their clients and the amazing culture that the agency has fostered. It has been an absolute pleasure to have been with them on this journey and for the new one ahead.”

The move will allow iris to extend its global management consultancy capabilities into pricing strategy, and deliver more bottom-line value and profitability impact for clients, and gives iris an HQ in Toronto with franchise agreements in Europe and APAC and a portfolio of 50 clients. Since acquiring management consultancy iris Concise in 2008, iris has worked hard to challenge the traditional agency / client dynamic, from funding product innovation through its incubator The iris Nursery, acquiring Datalytics to generate more robust methods of evaluation and targeting, and building global content hubs years before content became a buzzword. With constant evolution in its DNA, iris today blends the best in creativity and consultancy and is built from a diverse mix of specialisms that can flex around specific business opportunities. And while most agencies will touch on anything from product, promotion, and placement to audiences and routes to market – very few are able to influence price, despite it having the biggest potential impact on profitability. Clients are waking up to the realization that 1% extra on price could increase profitability by 12% and in both B2B & B2C industries price differentiation is critical to purchasing decisions. Pricing Solutions’ bespoke approach coupled with thought leadership and proprietary methodology satisfies a client need, which often goes unaddressed. The addition of Pricing Solutions brings includes over 20 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies and expertise in the pricing industry – which could be a game-changing mix for brands. Ian Millner, CEO, iris: “There is absolute chaos in the market at the moment. Every week a new story comes out about agencies feeling the pressure, and the client trust crisis. Agencies need to think much harder about what skills they need in order to be more relevant, valuable and distinctive. Pricing is one of the most important elements of a client’s business and one of the things that make the biggest impact on a client’s profitability…” “We are excited to be working with Pricing Solutions’ team of world renowned experts, and we are confident that we will be able to extend their skills across our entire network. We are also really looking forward to extending the iris brand into the Canadian market.” Founded in 1993 by Paul Hunt, and with a head office in Toronto and franchise agreements in Europe and Asia-Pacific, Pricing Solutions is one of the leading pricing consultancy’s, dramatically improving client’s profitability and market share through improved pricing. Paul Hunt, who will stay on as President of the company, authored ‘World Class Pricing: The Journey’ published in 2013 and has been rated the top speaker at PPS Pricing Conference on regular occasions. Paul Hunt, President, Pricing Solutions: “It’s not a rarity for a client to come forward with a brief around pricing – ‘we want to be worth the premium consumers are paying – how can we justify that price’. Collaborating with the experts at iris Concise – we will have a clear and valuable role in advising clients how best to price. As far as I’m aware – there is no other agency network in the world that will be able to deliver what we can for clients – and generate as much impact on profitability. It is a very exciting partnership.” iris will be rolling out the Pricing Solutions proposition globally, with pricing hubs set up in iris Concise teams across 14 iris offices. The Pricing Solutions name and brand will not be changed – and the business will continue to operate through its current outlets. The company has shown over 10% annual growth average in last three years.